The decaying Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas provides a window into the sad reality of the life and times of Venezuela.

I’d rather walk the streets of Mogadishu, Sana’a, or Aleppo than Caracas, where murder and mugging is commonplace and hyperinflation means most Venezuelans have trouble even obtaining food staples like rice and bread.

A fascinating story (in Spanish) shares how Caracas Airprot is rapidly falling apart:

Airport is in a state of dissrepair

Most airlines have cancelled service

Security cameras no longer work

Jet fuel is contaminated

Passengers robbed, one killed last year on airport premises

Airport staff robbed as they leave the airport at night

The latest problem: theft of artwork.

Passengers are pulling up tile pieces of the mural by Cruz Diez de Maiquetía as souvenirs as they leave the country. This iconic mural in the international terminal covers floors and walls. Over the last few months, huge chunks of the mural have gone missing, a hallmark of the airport. Pictures here.

The airport that once had robust service around the world and was even served by Concorde, now cannot even protect its artwork.

CONCLUSION

But there is some hope. While some Venezuelans admit to stealing pieces from the mural, they describe it as a political move. As thousands flee the country in hopes of a better life elsewhere, most hope to one day return to their homeland. When they do, they will piece back the mural, a sign of restoration.

top image ironically taken from the airport’s website, which is no longer online

About Author

Matthew

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he
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Simon Bolivar International Airport has been a dangerous place for travelers to arrive in for about 20 years now. And, the journey from Maiquetia to Caracas has been a dangerous one for quite some time (I have experience in what CAN happen during that journey). That this is a dangerous place in which to disembark is nothing new (contrary to what you may think based on media accounts). What is new now is that the rot has infected the airport itself. In the past, rampant danger awaited you outside the doors of the terminal. People were kidnapped by phony taxi drivers outside of the facility. But the bad guys needed to entice you off-site before robbing you. The airport itself had a feeling of normalcy – once you were past security. Now, even that is falling apart.

Venezuela should be a cautionary tale for all of us as to what can happen when you misguidedly decide to listen to hucksters (first Chavez, now Maduro).

Yes Nicholas! Totally agree. Americans trying to unjustly influence Latino America has caused us great horrors, including this most recent tragedy. I have no doubt the hyperinflation and shortages of food are due to covert operations of the CIA in conjunction with rebels.